transom saver or not???

[potRight]

I have a 2000 renegade 18 with the 150 johnson, Should i use a transom saver or just whats on the motor already. Whats ya'll opinions on this.
I currently use the tramsom saver but was just wondering what the majority of do.
Thanks in advanced

[KellyJoe]

http://www.bbcboards.net...62918

[Todd Morgan]

I say yes..........transom saver.

We have a huge glass shop so I probably should tell you not to.......but.....I wouldn't pull out the gate without mine.

[russatbuck's]

I would vote no on the transom saver, especially with that OMC bracket. With this, the engine doesn't bounce; it stays in one position on the transom. If you have ever driven behind someone towing a boat on a transom saver and seen what happens when they hit a pothole or make a right turn over a curb, you'll see the boat separate from the trailer, even with straps on the boat. The transom saver "ties" the boat to the trailer, and the boat and trailer separate. I once spoke at length with an engineer at OMC, and that is the way he explained it. He said it was better to keep the boat and motor "together" where the motor is "locked down" to the boat, not the trailer.

[DR Stratos]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by russatbuck’s &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I would vote no on the transom saver, especially with that OMC bracket. With this, the engine doesn't bounce; it stays in one position on the transom. If you have ever driven behind someone towing a boat on a transom saver and seen what happens when they hit a pothole or make a right turn over a curb, you'll see the boat separate from the trailer, even with straps on the boat. The transom saver "ties" the boat to the trailer, and the boat and trailer separate. I once spoke at length with an engineer at OMC, and that is the way he explained it. He said it was better to keep the boat and motor "together" where the motor is "locked down" to the boat, not the trailer.</TD></TR></TABLE>


With hydraulic steering, how you keep the motor from laying down to one side on a long trip? My starts out straight, but eventually creeps to one side the longer the trip.

[Jason Phillips]

Buy a small piece of PVC pipe large enough to fit over the steering lines. Cut a slit in the pipe so that you can snap it over the line on each side of the centerline (motor). This will keep the motor straight and cost you a couple of bucks.

[SwatDawg]

[Javelin389t]

You are very correct. If the engine comes with the bracket use it. only use
transom saver when you do not have any other option.

Javelin389T

[BuzzB8]

Here's a picture of what Jason is talking about. They work just fine!

I used 3/4" PVC pipe and a dremel tool to cut out about 1/4 to 1/3 of the pipe.

[CaymasRodney]

Or you can buy them, T-H Marine makes a set to fit all engines.

[kingfisher1185]

I have the same ??. But what if you dont have two sides to put the pvc pipe on. I only have one side so it wouldnt do me any good.

[21ssextreme]

i also vote no like russ said above drive next to someone towing a boat and watch how the boat motor reacts when the trailer hits a good bump even though its strapped down those stretch and yes they alow the motor to bounce bad....Never again will i use it and i've been doing just fine without it for years now.......chris nj

[PJCodner]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 21ssextreme &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i also vote no like russ said above drive next to someone towing a boat and watch how the boat motor reacts when the trailer hits a good bump even though its strapped down those stretch and yes they alow the motor to bounce bad....Never again will i use it and i've been doing just fine without it for years now.......chris nj</TD></TR></TABLE>

How would using the built in OMC one be any different then a transom saver? The one that is on the motor is not locked into place and the motor will still bounce if you hit a big enough hole.

I say use one. Plus Todd says so!

[phillipshunter]

i have to say use a transom saver. it's costly to repair glass and transom from the transom having to catch all of the stress from bumps, potholes etc. If the boat is going to seperate from the trailer with the transom saver then it will also seperate without one.

Now, if it seperates without one during a bump the only thing supporting the weight of the motor is the transom, correct?

If it seperates with the transom saver, then when it bounces back down into place the transom saver and trailer will take the shock, correct?

Decide for yourself which is better for the boat/motor combination.

[bugs195]

Good question, Todd recommends using a transom saver and that's good enough for me. Do they make one with a built in shock? That might work the best...

[AB]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by phillipshunter &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If it seperates with the transom saver, then when it bounces back down into place the transom saver and trailer will take the shock, correct?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Negative. It is the transom, trim system, and lower unit that take the shock.

[russatbuck's]

I would bet that a large portion of the glass repairs referred to in an earlier post are the result of hitting objects in the water; not from trailering without a transom saver.

You see very few people who don't use them, so alot of the boats in glass shops have been running transom savers anyway.

[pappastratos]

YES !! use the elastic cords (bungee ?) to secure, so if boat bounces on trailer, the elastic cords will give it some play but keep saver in place. If your boat is bouncing around enough on the trailer, looks like the trailer straps are too loose !!

[21ssextreme]

You guys don't get it.. Ever notice when you stop and take off your transom saver its always wedged on real tight....Thats not good that means its getting hammered on everytime you hit a bump it sends the jolt up thru the trailer into the boat and with the transom saver there it kicks up the motor thats why your transom saver is always stuck and takes a few back and forth pulls to get it off.....The factory bracket is there for a reason its not for just its good looks...It was designed to be used when properly trimmed down into the factory bracket its the best protection there is from rough roads.........chris nj

[Javelin389t]

You are very correct 21ssextreme.

Javelin389T